New York City Mayor Eric Adams has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a colleague in 1993 while working for the New York Police Department (NYPD) that were made in a recent court filing.
The three-page summons lists Adams and the NYPD's transit bureau and Guardian Association as defendants in the case.
"Plaintiff was sexually assaulted by Defendant Eric Adams in New York, New York in 1993 while they both worked for the City of New York," the summons says.
The filing adds: "Sexual assault, battery and employment discrimination on the basis of the Plaintiff's gender and sex, retaliation, hostile work environment and intentional infliction of emotional distress."
A City Hall spokesperson strenuously denied Adams was involved in any wrongdoing.
"If they ever met, he doesn't recall it. But he would never do anything to physically harm another person and vigorously denies any such claim," the spokesperson told Newsweek.
The legal bid was filed just before the deadline included in New York's Adult Survivors Act, which took effect in November 2022 and opened a one-year window for alleged sexual abuse victims to file lawsuits in state and federal courts, according to the New York Post. The complainant is seeking at least $5 million in damages.
An attorney for the plaintiff praised the act, saying it had "given so many women the opportunity to seek justice."
The same legislation was used by writer E. Jean Carroll to bring a civil case against former President Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner.
A New York jury in May concluded that Trump sexually abused Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman store in the 1990s. Trump continues to deny the allegation, which he branded a disgrace on his Truth Social website after the verdict. Criminal proceedings cannot be brought in the case because of the statute of limitations.
The FBI is investigating one of Adams' top fundraisers, Brianna Suggs, over claims that his 2021 mayoral election campaign conspired with Turkey to receive an illegal campaign donation of $6,000. As part of the investigation the FBI raided Suggs' house in October and Adams was required to surrender electrical devices.
Adams has strongly denied any wrongdoing, though his campaign attorney, Boyd Johnson, said an "individual had recently acted improperly" in a statement provided to Newsweek.
"After learning of the federal investigation, it was discovered that an individual had recently acted improperly," the statement said. "In the spirit of transparency and cooperation, this behavior was immediately and proactively reported to investigators.
"The mayor has been and remains committed to cooperating in this manner. On Monday night, the FBI approached the mayor after an event. The mayor immediately complied with the FBI's request and provided them with electronic devices. The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing and continues to cooperate with the investigation."
A Marist poll released Tuesday found that 52 percent of New York City residents disapprove of Adams' job performance, including one-third who said they "strongly disapprove," against just 37 percent who had a positive perception. The survey also found more than seven in 10 New Yorkers think Adam's mayoral campaign behaved improperly in its alleged dealings with Turkey.
Update 11/23/23, 1:02 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
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James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is covering U.S. politics and world ... Read more
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